To deceive; to mislead the mind or judgment (verb)
Looking for the answer to the USA Today Rootonym clue “To deceive; to mislead the mind or judgment (verb)”? The solution is DELUDE, a 6-letter word built on the root LUD (“play, laugh, sport, mock”). It appeared in the June 21, 2026 (Sunday) USA Today Rootonym. See the full puzzle for that day's other words.
Answer
DELUDE
**LUD*LUDmeans “play, laugh, sport, mock”
In a sentence
Carol did not DELUDE herself into thinking that her first submission to a syndicate might be accepted.
About this clue
The Rootonym clue “To deceive; to mislead the mind or judgment (verb)” has the answer DELUDE (6 letters), built on the root LUD, which means “play, laugh, sport, mock”. Browse the full June 21, 2026 Rootonym puzzle for the other three words, or see all Rootonym answers.